Italian stories
Clever Bird Builds a Fake Nest Entrance to Fool Predators
Il Codibugnolo pendolino costruisce un nido con una porta finta per ingannare i predatori.
Il eel The
Codibugnolo pendolino koh-dee-boon-YOH-loh pen-doh-LEE-noh Penduline Tit
costruisce koh-stroo-EE-sheh builds
un oon a
nido NEE-doh nest
con kohn with
una OO-nah a
porta POR-tah door
finta FEEN-tah fake
per pehr to
ingannare een-gahn-NAH-reh trick
i ee the
predatori. preh-dah-TOH-ree predators.
Questo piccolo uccello vive in Europa, Asia e Nord America.
Questo KWEH-stoh This
piccolo PEEK-koh-loh small
uccello oo-CHEL-loh bird
vive VEE-veh lives
in een in
Europa, eh-OO-roh-pah Europe,
Asia AH-zyah Asia
e eh and
Nord America. nord ah-MEH-ree-kah North America.
Ha il dorso marrone, la testa grigia e una maschera nera.
Ha ah It has
il eel a
dorso DOR-soh back
marrone, mahr-ROH-neh brown,
la lah the
testa TEH-stah head
grigia GREE-jah gray
e eh and
una OO-nah a
maschera MAH-skeh-rah mask
nera. NEH-rah black.
Il nido pende dai rami degli alberi e sembra una piccola borsa.
Il eel The
nido NEE-doh nest
pende PEN-deh hangs
dai dah-ee from
rami RAH-mee branches
degli DEH-lyee of the
alberi AHL-beh-ree trees
e eh and
sembra SEM-brah looks like
una OO-nah a
piccola PEEK-koh-lah small
borsa. BOR-sah bag.
Il maschio crea il nido usando morbide fibre vegetali.
Il eel The
maschio MAH-skyoh male
crea KREH-ah creates
il eel the
nido NEE-doh nest
usando oo-ZAHN-doh using
morbide MOR-bee-deh soft
fibre FEE-breh fibers
vegetali. veh-jeh-TAH-lee plant.
La femmina aiuta a finirlo con ragnatele e peli di animali.
La lah The
femmina FEM-mee-nah female
aiuta ah-YOO-tah helps
a ah to
finirlo fee-NEER-loh finish it
con kohn with
ragnatele rah-nyah-TEH-leh spiderwebs
e eh and
peli PEH-lee hair
di dee of
animali. ah-nee-MAH-lee animals.
La vera porta è nascosta e facile da chiudere dall’interno.
La lah The
vera VEH-rah real
porta POR-tah door
è eh is
nascosta nah-SKO-stah hidden
e eh and
facile FAH-chee-leh easy
da dah to
chiudere kyoo-DEH-reh close
dall’interno. dahl-leen-TER-noh from inside.
La porta finta porta a uno spazio vuoto.
La lah The
porta POR-tah door
finta FEEN-tah fake
porta POR-tah leads
a ah to
uno OO-noh an
spazio SPAH-tsyoh space
vuoto. VOO-oh-toh empty.
I predatori spesso si confondono e se ne vanno.
I ee The
predatori preh-dah-TOH-ree Predators
spesso SPES-soh often
si see get
confondono kon-FON-doh-noh confused
e eh and
se ne vanno. seh neh VAHN-noh leave.
Sources:
Test your comprehension
What does the Penduline Tit use to deceive predators?
- una porta finta
- un nido grande
- una canna da pesca
- una trappola
Where does the Penduline Tit live?
- in Africa
- in Europa, Asia e Nord America
- solo in Asia
- in Australia
What materials does the male Penduline Tit use to build the nest?
- rami e foglie
- fibre vegetali morbide
- plastica e carta
- sabbia e fango
What is hidden from view in the Penduline Tit’s nest?
- un uccello
- un tesoro
- la vera porta
- un predatore
Grammar cards for this story
Present Simple Tense
- Example: “Il Codibugnolo pendolino costruisce un nido.”
- Explanation: The present simple tense is used to describe habitual actions, general truths, or facts. In this case, it tells us what the bird typically does.
Adjectives
- Example: “Questo piccolo uccello vive in Europa.”
- Explanation: Adjectives are words that describe nouns. Here, “piccolo” describes the noun “uccello” (bird), giving us more information about its size.
Conjunctions
- Example: “La femmina aiuta a finirlo con ragnatele e peli di animali.”
- Explanation: Conjunctions are used to connect words, phrases, or clauses. The word “e” (and) connects “ragnatele” (cobwebs) and “peli di animali” (animal hairs), indicating that both materials are used by the female bird.
Passive Voice
- Example: “La vera porta è nascosta.”
- Explanation: The passive voice is used when the focus is on the action or the recipient of the action rather than the doer. Here, the emphasis is on the state of the door being hidden rather than who hid it.
Adverbial Phrases
- Example: “se ne vanno.”
- Explanation: Adverbial phrases provide information about how, when, or where an action takes place. “Se ne vanno” indicates that the predators leave, providing context to their action.